Ex-Edison cop avoids jail in DUI revenge; firebombing trial looms

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A former Edison officer will serve probation for recruiting three other officers in a plan to get payback on another cop over a drunk driving arrest.

Michael A. Dotro, the 39-year-old ex-cop authorities say was at the center of a handful of alleged retaliation schemes, including firebombing a supervisor's house, was sentenced Friday morning to two years of supervised release.

As part of the plea deal, the 10-year veteran of the Edison Police Department struck with the prosecutor's office, he admitted to planning to retaliate against the North Brunswick officer who arrested his relative on a drunk driving charge.

Dotro appeared before Judge Joseph Paone in Middlesex County Superior Court just after 9 a.m. a week after two of his fellow officers avoided probation for their role in the scheme.

Brian Favretto, 41, of Brick, and William H. Gesell, 48, of Edison, were each ordered to pay $325 in fines last Friday. Dotro's attorney Robert Norton asked for his client's sentencing to be postponed.

Dotro, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, was ordered to pay $765 in fines and fees. He will face 18 months in prison if his probation is violated. He will also provide a DNA sample to the prosecutor's office.

"The fact that he was able to enlist other members of Edison Police Department in this scheme and an effort was made to entrap a North Brunswick police officer in retaliation for the DUI, I think that reflects a certain level of corruption of some members of the Edison Police Department and that cannot be tolerated," Paone said.

However, the judge said he was required to sentence Dotro along with the plea deal and as a "law abiding citizen" because none of the other charges against the former officer, including five counts of attempted murder, have yet to lead to a conviction.

Favretto and Gesell pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons charge as part of the deal. Another officer involved in the DUI scheme, Victor E. Aravena, 45, of Edison, had his sentencing delayed until July for an unknown reason. Each officer resigned in September and cannot hold public office again, according to the plea.

Norton and Richard Incremona, Alycia's attorney, both argued the text message between the couple doesn't prove the reports were accessed illegally.

Assistant Prosecutor Russel J. Curley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said the text messages, which were exchanged the day after the alleged tire slashing, imply the two were talking about reading the report.

Jimenez said he will consider the motions and give the sides until March to strike a plea deal or the case will go to trial by April or May.

"This is an old, old, old case," Jimenez said. "I need to move this case forward."

Friday's sentencing was the first set of charges brought against Dotro that have run their course in the courts. He also faces accusations of firebombing his former captain's home, while his family slept inside, and plotting to do the same thing to another supervisor's home.